What is the best card to make this combo lethal?
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Oct. 20, 2018, 2:03 a.m. by StopShot
Card combination of interest: Grinning Ignus & Runaway Steam-Kin.
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This 2-card combo generates: Infinite storm and infinite cycles of a creature entering and leaving the battlefield.
Mana-cost needed to go infinite:
Extra: Either card can be tutored for with Flamekin Harbinger.
Description: Grinning Ignus is a creature with an ability that can effectively allow you to recast it multiple times on the same turn, however; while it always supplies enough mana to recast itself, for every loop you'll need to pay one extra mana for it's activated ability resulting in a net loss of per cycle. With Runaway Steam-Kin we now have the Ignus's missing piece as the Steam-Kin can easily generate the extra needed so that the initial loop no longer loses nor gains any mana in the process. This in turn creates a two card infinite loop, but by itself it is not enough to flat out win the game nor make any impact on the board. We wish to insert a third card into this combo to do just that. Thoughts?
Possible third card candidates:
Altar of the Brood: Infinite mill.
Impact Tremors or Grapeshot: Infinite damage.
Hazoret's Monument: Makes the initial combo cheaper to start. Generates infinite colorless mana and infinite card draw which results in lethal if Walking Ballista or Aetherflux Reservoir are in the deck.
Cinder Pyromancer: Infinite damage. (Can also be tutored for with Flamekin Harbinger.)
Conclusion: I am uncertain as to which third card would be the best choice to make this combo the most effective at winning the game. That said I feel there may be another third-card combo piece I am unaware of that may prove better than the ones I've listed. I'm making this post in hopes that it inspires an interest and discussion on the potential a combo like this has for combo-based decks, and so that better finishers for this combo may be discovered to improve upon it. Please share your thoughts below, thank you.
My vote is Hazoret's Monument with Grapeshot as a 1-of or 2-of in the deck.
October 20, 2018 5:07 p.m.
GoblinsBeatElves says... #5
Yeah, I would agree with what Pieguy396 said. Hazoret's Monument reduces the Ignus’s cost by 1, getting you infinite mana and filtering with the ability of it, so you could find a Grapeshot or Banefire or something.
October 20, 2018 5:59 p.m.
Megalomania says... #6
You can have Purp as your commander though. It becomes a readily available 3rd piece. Would still include the Monument in the deck. It’s still a pretty neat card in a mono red deck.
October 20, 2018 6:36 p.m.
If you were to run this combo in your deck would you include the Flamekin Harbinger as a tutor, or is it's effect too niche?
October 20, 2018 6:38 p.m.
UpperDeckerTaco says... #9
This has inspired me to build some jank mono red deck
Megalomania says... #2
Purphoros, God of the Forge
October 20, 2018 2:09 a.m.